About the Fish Oil Calculator
This calculator turns a daily omega-3 target into a practical capsule count. Enter how many milligrams of EPA and DHA (the two omega-3 fatty acids fish oil supplements are dosed on) you want to get each day, along with the EPA and DHA content printed on your bottle's Supplement Facts panel. The calculator divides your target by the combined EPA+DHA in one capsule, rounds up to a whole capsule, and reports the capsules per day, the actual delivered dose, how long a bottle lasts, and the cost per day.
How the calculation works
- Capsules per day = target EPA+DHA (mg) divided by EPA+DHA per capsule (mg), rounded up to the next whole capsule — you cannot take a fraction of a softgel.
- Delivered EPA+DHA = capsules per day multiplied by EPA+DHA per capsule, which is the actual dose you get once the capsule count is rounded.
- Bottle duration = capsules per bottle divided by capsules per day, rounded down to the last full day the bottle covers.
- Cost per day = bottle price divided by bottle duration in days.
Because the capsule count always rounds up rather than down, the delivered dose is equal to or slightly above your target, never below it.
Reading a fish oil label
A Supplement Facts panel usually lists total fish oil per capsule (for example 1000 mg) separately from the EPA and DHA amounts (for example 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA). This calculator uses the combined EPA+DHA figure — 300 mg in that example — not the total fish oil weight, since EPA and DHA are the fatty acids that omega-3 intake is typically measured in. Higher-concentration ("triple strength" or "ultra") products pack more EPA+DHA per capsule, which lowers the capsules-per-day figure needed to reach the same target.
When to consult a professional
This tool only converts a target dose into a capsule count, bottle duration, and cost — it does not tell you how much EPA and DHA you personally need. Appropriate intake depends on diet, health history, and any medications you take, including blood thinners. Set your target with guidance from a doctor, registered dietitian, or the product label, and check with a healthcare provider before starting or changing a supplement routine.